Traffic-line marking and stenciling machine



i Dec. 2,-` 1930; c. v. NGIER, .1R 1,783,689

TRAFIEIG LINE MARKING AND STENCILING MACHINE Dec. z, 1930. v. ANGIER.- JR 1,783,689

TRAFFIC LINE MARKING AN) STENGILNG MACHINE Patented DecB 2; 1939 'y CLARENCE nimma, anger ATLANTA suonare TRAFICgLINE/Fiannniiie AND' s'iiiiiCitrus?r MACHINE Y Application" fiid- Marcil 5,` i925. ser'iailiiorl fiaeia f `This invention Vis animprovementinma-l chines yfor, marking and stencil'ing traiiic glines on street`s,and one off the principalfobj'ects'o the invention isjto `provideV almachinewhich i l 5 sprays the line, as differentiatedfroin smearing theline with a brush or brushes,'the structureoffthe machine being such that the-lateral edges of the line are'sharply 'defined bly-the .use of spaced brushes-arranged longitudi- Y nally of the line, andfwhich are maintained lightly in Contact with the street surface.

Another object` ofthe invention listo so '.position thepa'int-applying portion ofthe Y machine, called the-bruslnboX, that the trailc `linescan be extended rtoY close `proximitywith the curbs, andincaseswhere linesare to be marked' paralletwiththef curbs, to denel parking spaces, lsuchlineslcan 'bef markedv While automobiles are in -parled position 2cy Withoutdanger of interference ofthe marking machine Withsuchautomobilesf' Itiscus` Y Vtomary to positionthe lines delin-iiigg;the1oark-4 j l y j 'fplates v on the'insidesoi'the brushes for keepving i thev 'brush lbiistle's position .-to 'sharply i define the lateral edgesof` theinarked lines. f Another object ofA the invention'is to j so `ing' spaces a distancefrom the' curb Aapproximately equaly torthelengtli .of anv automobile,

- and With-many types vof linemaiking nia-v c'hines, fit has been vnecessary to niark l such -lines 4at night time -When-the `streets-were j cleared'of parked automobiles, since parts-of the line-marling machines projected beyond j thelines to bedeflned, andheiiceinterfered rWith automobiles when the latter were in kparked position. VMy machine is j so foonstructed thattlie ybrush box is substantiallyin "alignment with the right hand side of thema- Chine', so thatthe machine canbelmf'o'ved'along Vinelose proximityto the rear ends Voffp'arled automobiles, to `definethe p ark-inglines While the automobiles lareinwposition,-thusldoing away `With the'. necessity of 'marking lines at 4o night.: Y s l, j j l Y A further object of the inventionisltoepro- Y Aa spray-nozzle isfinouiited between'V spaced brushes which define the lateraledgesfof the line to lie-marked,thefconstructionbeingsuch that the brusl'iesmay'be adjusted fordefiniiig the edgesof lines ofdi'iferent Widths, land the Sill f i tbetthespray Will strikevtlie brushes at; the

. saine distance aboyefthestreet suri'acalirrefin-'diete like-fiar nez/file is also adjustable vertically so l Y spective of thedistancean'artl'of such Further objects ofthe inventionare to'zpro# vide. an improved. machine ofK the character described', "in Which means visprovidedV for preventing l drafts ork gusts` of Wind 'from inl terering with or affecting the spray; to pro- VideI means for automatically guiding the level of the roadway; to yprovidemeans 'for lifting brus'hrbox into Vinojper'atiYe posi- Y tion when it is desired :to -move Vthe machine Y i vfrom place to place Without forming a line;

fbrusli-boi Aover obstructions in `Ithe,v roadway,"-v j suoli as lrailway rails .positioned aboye the to provide. a/'construjction'gof the frame of' the machine such thatthe -tanks for containing i.

the -paint andcompressed air may beexpedi- Vtiously and bodily'mollntfed `in and removed from-V therame-,f thusf fproviding foiease', in assenibling` 'disassembling *of ithenmm Chine; Q'SHCOS'UC hebrush-box thatffthe of 'the brusli bristles, and, cofoperate 'With constructthe machinethat'whenit is loaded readilyturning the machine aboutu *Y With these and other objects'inview which' VWill become apparent as thendes'cription pro- 'c`eeds,"` tlieinyention Vresides `in j the l construction,'.combiiiationland arrangementfof parts hereinater'more fully described and'olaimed,

and' Villustratediin the accompanying draw? ing@V in Whichflile" Cliaractersof reference `igureajandinvvhiehft., f Figurel represents aside elevational l View Vof the"iiiajchineJr ,Fiiure 3` represe Hts e from; :envenena 'View 0f vthe machine 1 icc usfthroughouttheV several V30 en I cated at 5, the vertical corner pieces being secured at their lower ends at the corners `of the lower frame pieces by bolts or rivets as at 6. The side rails of the machine frame at the upper part thereof, are formed of a length of strap iron, which is doubled at the front of the machine to form a bearing 7 for receiving the upper. end of the fixed fork 8V in which the single front wheel 9 ismounted, the

'ends ofthe strap iron Vbeing then separated `,as at 10, and bentinto parallelism as at 11, toform the upper side bars of the frame, be-

ing secured in suitable manner to the upper ends of the corner angleirons 5. Cross bars 12 at the front and rear of the frame, connect the upper ends of the corner angle irons, and side braces 13, intermediate the height of the machine, are secured to the corner irons, such braces being forined'ofa length of strap iron in the same manner as already described v -with regard to the side rails 11, the bearing 14, formed at the forward doubled portion of the side braces 13, together with the bearing 7, supporting the fork 8, and being fast thereto. Handles 15 riveted or otherwise secured to diagonal side braces 16, form Va means for manually propelling the machine.

Within the body frame are located a forward tank 17, and a rear tank 18, the former of which is adapted to receive air under pressure, and the latter to receive the paint with which the lines are toV be sprayed. These tanks may be clamped in position by means of a long bolt or headed cross bar 18?L connecting the side braces 18 between the tanks, such bar having means for. drawing t-he side Y braces against the tanks, for binding them in position, such as a nut 18". A pipe connection 19 is provided between the tanks at their upper ends, and therein is arranged a valve 2() for reducing the pressure between the air tank 17and the paint tank 18,V the pipe line 19 connecting` at the paint tank with a. pipe 21 which terminates at its lower end near the bottom of the paint tank so vthat the air 4in' escaping into the paint tank will continuously agitate the paint contained therein. Pressure gauges 2Q, are provided for each 'Y tank, to indicate the-pressures therein, and

a cut-off valve 23 is arranged betweenth-c pressure-reducing valve and the paint tank.

` into operation.

- various positions.

A valve 24 for the admission of compressed air to the air tank, from a suitable source of supply, is provided, and a high pressure cutolf valve 25 is arranged between the air intake valve 24, and the air tank. The paint tank is equipped at its upper end with a relief valve 26 for placing the tank in communication with theA atmosphere when it is desired to agitate the contents of the paint tank, for instance, when the machine has been out of operation for a period of time, such agitation being secured by opening the relief valve and the cut-olf valve 23, to thus allowv air undei' pressure to bubble through the paint preparatory to putting the machine The paint tank is also equipped'at its upper end with a plug 27 through which it may be filled, and adjacent its lower end with a large cleanout plug 28,

which may be removed for the pur pose` of allowing access to the bottom of the paint tank to clean it when such operation becomes necessary.

In addition to the forward wheel, the machine is supported upon a pair of rear wheels 29, mounted on an axle 30, -so disposed with respect to the center of gravity of the ina.- chine when the paint tank is full, that such center ofgravity is above or slightly in advance of the rear axle, so that the machine may be readily tilted up about the rear axle as a center ofpivotal movement, in order that the machine may be readily turned into The; front'an'd the rear wheels may be made of pressed steel; may be equipped with rubber tires; and mounted on ball bearings.

, The front wheel is mounted on an axle 3l upon 4'which axle the wheelY rotates, and' it will be noted that the sides 32 of the lower bifurcated end of the fork 8 are spaced suliciently beyond the hub 33 l(see Figure fl) of the wheel to allowfori'play of the wheel longitudinally of the axle 31.

This play to allow shifting movement to the right and to the left of the forward Vend of the machine with regard to the front wheel 9, so as to allow .the machine to follow curved lines. f The paint-applying apparatus includes a box indicated generally at A,arranged along A side theffront wheel, and substantially in alignment with the right side of the machine, such4 Vdisposition of the box being to allow of the traffic lines being marked upA` closely to the curbs, and also to allow of the of the machine projecting `materially to the right of and beyond the line marking appai?" ratus, such apparatus `may be moved in close proximity to vehicles or other obstructions to facilitate the marking of parked lines parallel to the street curbs and while the rehicles are in parked positon.

ffThe brush-box 'constitntes a pair of; metal "plates" 34; and 35" "having their' ends turned Itoward eachfthe-to* provide flaiiges 136 vat the ends of the bqoxgscliiangesr over-lap- 'pingeach-5" other. The" flanged ends "of -one allow4 thefboxfisides' being shifted toward lor 'their adjusted'positionsisothat lines ofdiffel.-

enti Widths may-bel marked. ILong narrow.

lat the' `saine time, Vthemselves offer' no resist- Vance t6 `the"bending I ofthe bristles sufieiently to allow'the-ebristles-to adjust'themselves-"to the road surfaceiff The brnshesare relatively narrow,ltheir` function being not to mark theVI line,` butine'rely to sharply *define .the

` edgesl thereof, "andY in carrying 'out this pi1r LApose,'#asWillhereinafter"fappear, thereon# strctionfissiichgl that fwhen the box is in vmarking posit-ion, theibrushes rest only light- `V` V`1y nponthe-surfaceFof'the stree,tf",iso' that-their function ofdeiining-thefedgesfof the line-'Will vbe `carried outand atthesameltime; Vno' maf terialfresistancetoithe inoveni'ennof'thema.-

"bristles will be reduced to a ',ininimum, *and 'no' spreadingio-f' theb'rushesf'suchasiniight'int'e'urfere Withthis'function'of:sharply Adefining the line-edges,' vv-illit'ale place. J

i Upon' theinnersides of the-''bodieslof the jbrushes -`are"*mounted platesf 411' the `lower edges iof Which-are inturned asat 42, to' force thel brush bristles; at* their {upper endsgagainst r :the sideplates of thebrush-box,`thns coopern ating Withsuch si`de-plates in keepingithe' 'bristles'iiralignment' atfthefouter edgesof the brnshes,and maintaining such bristles' in'po- ThebrushjboX-is 3 machinefis to be moved from place to place, f" and sothatadjustmentofthegcontact ofthe lof IContact with the roadrsurface Whenthe "brushbristles With the street sdrface'may lbe hadl This mounting includes side 'supporting armsf Wel-ded or otherwisefseeured to Vthe box' sidesa and 35,'su`ch armsgextending J upwardly and f rearwardly Aat anV 'an'gle With respectlto the brushv box, andv'beingfhinged'at f Etheir `upper ends'toa cross rodea mounted in Y s pivotallymouinted onfthe f machine', so thatV itmaybe 'bodily lifted out rod 44- ;as l tliefbox is adj usted I to".v `move the =brushes?closerftogetherlor farther apart, and "thebrusli box', inljits-adjusted position, may :be ltirevent'edE from shifting bodily along the `rod 'tt'by-cotter pins 46 .arranged on each 70 side of one ofthe arms 43,1 and` passing through openings in' the rod 44,' it-rbeing understood that additional openings 47 Yfor theV cotter pins,1nay be provided in the rod'for allowing the Cotter pins tobe shifted to re '75 tain'thefbox as Va -Whole against shifting onA therod, When it is inother adjusted positions.

s Y V lash'ersllSf may be-interposedpbetweenthe brushes Z39 are' A'mounted againstthe inner .ffaces of the-'box sidesillfand 35`,j.being remojw" ably "attachedfthe'reto *by `bolts or equivalent devices 40, n1d5y in 'such position s that the `l'ovver vehds of thebrush` bristlesiextend below jthe edges of` thefbox sidesysayfabout aninch, vso that the box sides retain the bristles on'the Aouter sides .of the` lbrushes in alignmeniand Cotter -pins 1 and; the supporting arms.'v Other t means,`of course, than thatL just disclosed, canas@ be readily used for maintaining the box when yiii Krarious adjusted positions against shiftf.` onthelrod 44, Without departing 'from 'the'invvention An ear 49 extending upward-` l ly from ne ofthe box-'supportinglarms 43,*-135 servesasrt-he forwardterminal4 of arodv 50, the rearfe'nd; of which isconnected with a i handlever 51 pivotedon one of the sidebraces 13,1 and 'Whichis accessi-ble tothe operator of themachine so that he-1n`ayat will, liftfand 1590 "lowerithe box by 'drawingthe lever, 51 rea-r# Ward or allowing ittom'ovefforvvard. The 'hand lever is Vecniipped with a spring-'actuated release; 52 which, When tlie lever f is. `drawn rearwardly to lift'the box and brushes.' clear lm5 f out of engagement With the,` street, may fengage inanctch 53provi'dedin the' guide strap Y "ftfor the handI lever, an'd'thusfretainf the box inliftedposition. A pin 55, isfmounted infone'of =av series of closely V*arranged yopen-i100 ingsvayin thefguide'strap 154C, and'this pin A a servesas'astop tothe forward movementof "the levery-t'o Vtl'i'ereby retainrthe kboxinianV s n Vadjustedlowered `positionfin` orderftoallovvjV I fthefbrushes to bear thedesired extent against 1,5105 fthestreetfsurfac@but te relieve them'of the' *Weight'ofthebrushbox -Bv shifting the pin 55 'forwardorbackward in the vseries of openings, the brushes canbemovedwmorefclosely or lesslclosely into Contact with the road sur-` 110 "-facefaiid thus" 'propercontact of the brushes With the streetl surface may belattai'nechand Whatever Wear which takes place inthebrush bristles, maybetaken up. i t l VAttached byineans ofbraclets tothe outer" 1115 `facesyof the vbox sides, land `projecting for! Wardly tlierefroni,is pair of curved springs Y 56,fso Vpositioned as to normallyY moveover the surface of the street justfoutfo'f *Contact4 Y therewith, but When anobstructionv is'enfcoun-` i129 i ttered,.suchgasstreet car rails projectingabove A the street. surface to engagesuchrails 0r otherA obstructions 'to ride; the box,'togetherV With Ythe brush bristles, thereover, hence prffnfent-A l1 ing'anytendencylto"retard'the progress of rthe machine, as Well as to prevent damage to any of its mechanism or to thebrushbristles.` ,Uponthe brush box being lifted byreason of the springsridingover theobstructiomtlie hand lever merely-moves back'to'anextent' l forward vwheel and substantially in alignment with one of the rear wheels. 1

2. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a wheel-supporting framework including a forward wheel, a paint-` 'applying means pivotallymounted with re-A spect to the frame work arranged substantially alongside the forward wheel and subb stantially in alignment with one side of said frame-work, and means mounted along said.

side of said frame-work for raising and lowering said paint-applying means relatively to the framework at will.

3. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a body andrunning gear, and a paint-applying means, the body and running gear and paint applying means as a whole defining substantially rectangular horizontal area, r.the said paint-applying means being arranged Vsubstantially at one corner of the area.

4. In a road-marking machine, the combination with spaced brushes laterally adjustable with respect to each other and arranged longitudinally of a line to be marked for defining the edges of such line, of means vertically adjustable with respect to said brushes for supplying a paint spray to the roadway between the brushes. I

5. In a machine of the class described, lthe combination with spaced devices for defining the edges of a line, and adjustable toward and away Afrom eachother, of means arranged between the devices and adjustable vertically for project-ing a spray in fixed relation to the devices irrespective of their adjustment. l I

6. In a machine of theclass described, the combination ofV spaced line defining means, means for raising and lowering the brushes at will, and means intermediate the line defining means and unaected by the raisingV and lowering movement thereof for spraying paint upon the roadway between the line de ining means. Y y i 7. In a machineof the class described, the

combination of a wheel-supported frame,aV

box pivotally vconnected to the frame, spaced brushes laterally adjustable with respect to each other. carried by the box, means for raising and lowering said box at will, and means vertically adjustablewith'respect to the brushes and unaffected by the raising and as broadly as permissible view ofthe prior lofzering ofthe box for supplying a paint spraybetween the brushes."

s'. 'ina machine ofthe dass dragostea-the combination of a wheel-supportedA {frame}J a lboxythe sidewalls of WhiChare-'shiftabIe toward and away from each other, means for pivotally, connecting the box `with the frame, means for raising and lowering the box atl WHL-brushes carried by'theboxisides Y in spaced relation toleachV other, (and aspray nozzle supported by the frameginrvertically fi adjustableposition, and larranged between l .the brushes.

In" a'machinefof the class'.describedifla brush-box including side-walls,b`rushes arfrangedV thereagainst, and extending there-A4 Y below, and" plates carried by*l the: brushes and forcing the .upper ends :of thewbris'tles of the brushes" againstV the side" walls l of; :the brush-box.

10,'.Inf ajmachin'e of the classidscribed,

ai brush-box including v'side walls 'brushe`s c'arriedbythe side walls-of the bdxancl hav.-`

ing. b ristles projecting slightly `belogWf"such Y i sidewalls, and means` forgforcing'fthe brush bristles towards the side walls ofV the;V box". "4T

Jlli In a road-'marking machine,`th`e' cornbination with" spaced V*brushes for(V the edges of a lline to be. marked,-of ,means for spraying the roadway between the brushes, and meansothe'r than thebrushV i structure above Vthe lower ends Aof thebrus'h bristlesrfortkeeping such bristlesfin' align#y 12'. In a machine of the class described,

the combination ofawheelsupported frame,

a brush-box connected thereto'andfadjustable toward and away from the road surface, and

havingfb-rushes for contacting with theroad surface, and means including va lever and adjustable stop for maintaining the brushwith the road `surface but are relieved of the weight of the box. Y

13. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a frame, rear wheels, and

`a forward wheel arranged substantially in-` termediate the rear wheels, for supporting 'the frame, a box arranged substantially along side the'forward wheel and substan# box in position such that the brushes contact lllO tially in alignment vwith one of the rear Wheels, the sides of such box being laterally adjustable with respect to each other and being pivotally mounted on the frame, vmeans carried bythe frame for raising and lowerfor dening the edges of a line, a spray nozzle Vsupported bythe frame between theV line deiining'means and being vertically adjustable with reference thereto, such nozzle being valve-controlled, and means carried f by the frame for controlling the the nozzle valve. i y

'14. Ina machine of the class described,

the combination with aframe, rearwheels,

position of l 12u' ing the box, means carried by the box sides 7"? and a orwardwheel arranged substantially intermediate the rear wheels, for supporting the frame, a box arranged substantially along side the forward Wheel and substantially at one edge of the machine and pivotally carried on the frame, means Carried 'by the box sides for defining the edges of a line, a spray nozzle supported by the frame between the line defining means and being vertically adjustable with reference thereto, such `nozzle being valve-Controlled, means carried by the frame for raising and lowering the box, and means carried by the frame for controlling the position of the nozzle Valve.

l5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, rear wheels, and a forward wheel arranged substantially intermediate the rear wheels, for supporting the frame, a box arranged substantially along side the forward wheel and substantially at one side of the machine, and pivotally earried on the frame, means carried by the box sides for deining the edges of a line, a spray nozzle, supported by the frame between the line-defining means, such nozzle being Valveeontrolled, means carried by the frame for raising and lowering the box, and means carried by the frame for controlling the position of the nozzle valve.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CLARENCE V. ANGIER, JR. 

